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Buccaneers Given Best Super Bowl Odds Among NFC Teams After Seahawks Lose to Cardinals

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated Mar 4, 2021 · 12:46 PM PST

Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady smiles after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 30-20. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
  • At odds of +850, the 5-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now the NFC team with the shortest betting line to win the Super Bowl
  • Tampa Bay’s average odds were +867 entering Week 7 of the NFL season
  • The line on the previously-unbeaten Seattle Seahawks lengthened from +667 to +1000

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are topping the charts and the Tom Brady doubters have grown silent.

A 45-20 drubbing of the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday by Brady and the Bucs improved NFC South leaders Tampa Bay to 5-2. Coupled with a 37-34 overtime loss by the previously-unbeaten 5-1 Seattle Seahawks, it vaulted the Buccaneers ahead of Seattle in the Super Bowl odds.

Tampa Bay is now the favorite among NFC teams in the Super Bowl 55 betting line at +850. Across the leading sportsbooks, the Bucs were at odds of +867 entering Week 7 action.

Super Bowl 55 Odds

Team Odds
Kansas City Chiefs +400
Baltimore Ravens +550
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +850
Pittsburgh Steelers +950
Seattle Seahawks +1000
Green Bay Packers +1200
New Orleans Saints +1300
Buffalo Bills +2000
Los Angeles Rams +2100
Tennessee Titans +2100

Odds taken Oct. 26 at FanDuel

Seattle’s odds lengthened to +1000 from +667 in this betting market.

Brady’s Legend Growing

Tossing for four touchdowns in Sunday’s win, Brady moved past his NFC South rival Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, becoming the NFL’s all-time leader with 559 TD passes. Brady has thrown for 18 TDs this season, compared to 11 by Brees.

After a bumpy start with his new team, Brady, 43, appears to have rediscovered his mojo. The three-time NFL MVP has fired 15 scoring passes in the past four games against just one interception.

One Brady TD on Sunday went to tight end Rob Gronkowski, the 92nd TD hookup of their NFL careers. In league history, only Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison have more (114).

Seahawks Stumble

While the Bucs weren’t stopping, the warts that have been evident in the Seahawks’ finally got the better of Seattle. Sunday’s loss marked the third time this season that Seattle surrendered more than 30 points, and the Seahawks’ defensive shortcomings finally got the better of them.

Arizona gained 519 yards against Seattle, 360 of it through the air. Seattle’s defense is tied for 29th in the NFL, allowing 6.3 yards per play.

Only Atlanta (2,334) has surrendered more passing yards than the Seahawks (2,212). And the Falcons have played one more game.

Buccaneers Latest Tampa Bay Sensation

The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup. The Tampa Bay Rays are playing in the World Series. Could the Buccaneers make it a Tampa Bay threepeat of title pursuits?

If so, Brady will add another chapter to his legacy. He’s won more Super Bowls (six), more Super Bowl MVPs (four), and more NFL regular-season (224) and playoff (30) games than any player in league history.

However, this season he’s seeking to do what no QB has ever achieved – lead his team to a Super Bowl appearance in their home stadium. Super Bowl 55 is slated for Feb. 7th at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium.

Whither AB?

The Bucs last week signed talented but frequently troubled wide receiver Antonio Brown, who’s tight with Brady. Brown just finished serving his most recent NFL suspension for off-the-field legal problems.

The question is which AB will be arriving in TB? Will it be the seven-time Pro Bowl selection who’s twice led the league in pass-reception yardage and once in TD receptions?

Or will it be the Brown who with his diva antics has worn out his welcome in all three of his previous NFL homes?

Last season, Brown was released by both the Raiders and New England Patriots.

Still Work To Be Done

Brady was quick to note that there’s a long way to go yet for the Buccanneers, and he’s right. They face a Week 9 rematch with the Saints, one of two teams to beat Tampa Bay.

There’s also the matter of Nick Foles. Brady has never beaten him, including a loss this season, and Chicago looms as a potential NFC playoff opponent.

Betting Tampa Bay to win the NFC Championship at +400 – the same odds as the Seahawks, interestingly enough – wouldn’t be a bad play. But the Super Bowl title is going to the AFC.

Kansas City, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh are all better teams than the Bucs. If it’s value you seek, the unbeaten Steelers at +950 are currently the better bet.

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